Can You Keep a Secret? [One Direction - Liam Payne Fanfic]

Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

10 years earlier

"Maia-boo, sweetie, breakfast!" My father called from downstairs in sing song.

I stepped off my bed setting my small feet on the pink floral carpet underneath. I ran downstairs in my Bugs Bunny pyjamas and headed for the kitchen. My dad was standing by the stove making breakfast, turning his head at me as soon as I walked in.

"Hey honey, why don't you sit down and I'll serve you pancakes."

I skipped to the dining table and drank from the glass of orange juice my dad had put out for me. It was a sunny day in Cheshire, which was rare. I turned my head in the direction of the sunlight and breathed in.

Dad served me his delicious chocolate chip and Nutella pancakes and I munched on them happily. Before sitting down, he turned on the television set in the kitchen and switched channels to Nickelodeon. I watched Spongebob make crabby patties when I was suddenly interrupted by my father.

"Maia Nicole, there's something we need to talk about."

Oh no, every 9 year old knew their father was about to say something serious when he called you by your full name. I put my fork down and he turned off the TV, making me gulp. What was so important that he had to turn off my favorite cartoon?

"Sweetie, as you know, Lisa is moving in with us today..."

I looked at him with happy eyes even though the fact my new step mother was moving in didn't really excite me.

"We've both decided that her daughter will move in with us as well... you know, Kelsey, you met her once..."

I frowned. Yes I'd met her. We went to the same school. Kelsey was the popular girl, the cute one, the one with the nicest clothes, the one everyone wanted to play with.... and I... I was the nerdy girl with glasses that no one ever noticed. Of course I knew who she was. She was everyone's favorite subject of conversation.

"Just wanted to let you know sweetie... But it's a good thing, you'll have someone to play with now, like a sister!"

I cringed at the term "sister". I nodded contently, hiding my sadness, and we continued having breakfast.

* *

Coming home from school one day and finding out that your father had taken a mysterious trip to Manchester and married a go go dancer wasn't exactly something I glady remembered, more like wish I could forget.

Lisa was... nice. I mean, she wasn't the typical storybook evil step mom, but she still wasn't my mother.

My real mom died in a car crash. I would love to tell you that I was really young when it happened, but that would be a lie. She died the day of my 8th birthday. A year and 4 months ago. And my father had already remarried.

It really hurt me that he moved on so quickly, and that's why I wasn't exactly fond of Lisa. She felt like a replacement, but she could never be my mother. Ever. Maybe she was more attractive (in the hooker sense) than my mom, but my mom was a natural beauty, nothing could ever compare to her. She wasn't nearly as polite, or motherly or even nice to begin with. She was just... my dad's mid-life crisis.

And with Lisa came Lisa's daughter, Kelsey. I was so excited about that.

I went downstairs after my dad obliged to wear a pretty dress and joined him outside on the lawn where we would be waiting for our new 'family'.

A cab pulled up and out stepped Lisa making an over the top entrance in her extravagant clothes and big hair. My dad ran to her and took her in his arms, spinning her around and kissing her violently. Ew.